What is your most prized Hunting possession?

The Schrade Uncle Henry knife that my dad gave me forty-two years ago. It hasn't missed a hunt or campout yet.

For me it's all the good memories of hunting with my Dad, Uncles, and cousins. Since I live so far from home they are about all I have anymore.
Still have everything else but especially "muzzle loading hunting season in PA" with the flintlock, primitive iron sights and round ball only, we lived for it.
I even got a deer once in a while. Still have my Left handed Hawkins' flintlock. It was the cost of admission to all that fun.

I lost my favorite hunting thing a year and a half ago at age 15. I still miss her every day.

Patocazador said:

I lost my favorite hunting thing a year and a half ago at age 15. I still miss her every day.

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Sorry for your loss, Patocazador. Those pictures made my wife cry - the eyes reminded her of our own little Ruger dog.
After 14 years, we lost Ruger (who was terrified of thunder, fireworks and gunshots) just a couple of months back.

Hmm. As far as firearms, I'd have to say my Sako Finnbear in .270 Win[1963]. It simply didn't miss. Good friend in Idaho has it now and he's using it this deer season when I'm up there.

Choctaw said:

The Schrade Uncle Henry knife that my dad gave me forty-two years ago. It hasn't missed a hunt or campout yet.

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What a great old knife! Whats the lever gun?

.45Coltguy said:

What a great old knife! Whats the lever gun?

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It's an 1892 Winchester. You can tell by the short receiver and the visible locking lug where the lever goes into the receiver.

.45Coltguy said:

What a great old knife! Whats the lever gun?

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It's a Rossi R92 Short Rifle in 45 Colt.

Memories. In the end that is all you have. Hopefully.

My M81 Woodland Hot Weather Coat. I use different guns and knives depending on my mood and what I'm hunting, but I wear this coat every time I go out. As you can tell it is well loved.

Two of my treasured hunting things would be a couple of the several knives that go deer hunting with me every season. Over 40 years ago my dad gave me his old folding knife and a brand-new Gerber folder. ... ..But the most prized title would go to the German Luger one of my late uncles brought home from Germany's V-2 Rocket factory in the spring of 1945 when he was helping Uncle Sam pack everything up for shipment to the U.S. It's been deer hunting with me in its soft case for about 20 years now because he thought it would be ideal for humanely dispatching a wounded deer without having to use a slug gun or high powered rifle at spitting distance. A 9mm to the back of the head/neck area of an incapacitated deer will end its misery instantly. Only had to use it for that once so far and that was back in 2011. Might run into that situation again someday and if so, the 9mm coup de gras will be close at hand in memory of my late uncle.. .

Two empty .270 cases from 1985. Dad and I each shot virtually identical 9-point bucks the same day and 30 miles apart. They weren't monsters, but were hung beside each other next to some beauties dad and his buddy had shot in the 60's and early 70's. Then some rotten SOB stole 27 sets of horns from camp...all gone. We've shot some nice deer since, but all we have left of those two matching buck is the two cases. Both were handloaded, so we can still tell which is which...his cases don't fit in my rifle.

Memories of rabbit hunting with my dad and his brothers behind a pack of beagles when I was old enough to responsibly use my double barreled .410.

Her.

My favorite piece of hunting gear is a shooting stick made from a piece of garden rake handle about 4 feet long. I painted it OD green but about 20 % of the paint has been rubbed off by constant use. I needed something that I could easily carry in one hand to make consistent hits on deer size animals out to 300 yards and when I learned how to use this single shooting stick it completely changed my deer hunting. My confidence is unshakable. I sit on the ground, hold the stick in my left hand, rest the rifle over my wrist and within a few seconds I have an accurate shot on the way. I even sight a rifle in using only this stick. Since the year 2000 I have taken about 20 big buck deer with this favorite hunting stick. I have been distracted and lost the stick a couple of times but I always take the time to go back and find it!

sage5907 said:

My favorite piece of hunting gear is a shooting stick made from a piece of garden rake handle about 4 feet long. I painted it OD green but about 20 % of the paint has been rubbed off by constant use. I needed something that I could easily carry in one hand to make consistent hits on deer size animals out to 300 yards and when I learned how to use this single shooting stick it completely changed my deer hunting. My confidence is unshakable. I sit on the ground, hold the stick in my left hand, rest the rifle over my wrist and within a few seconds I have an accurate shot on the way. I even sight a rifle in using only this stick. Since the year 2000 I have taken about 20 big buck deer with this favorite hunting stick. I have been distracted and lost the stick a couple of times but I always take the time to go back and find it!

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I'm always surprised that people like using a monopod for shooting. I've never been able to keep them stable enough to use effectively. In fact, I shoot better if forgo the stick altogether and shoot offhand. I must be doing it wrong.

Scout21 said:

I'm always surprised that people like using a monopod for shooting. I've never been able to keep them stable enough to use effectively. In fact, I shoot better if forgo the stick altogether and shoot offhand. I must be doing it wrong.

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I used one this past spring while my wife and I were shooting ground squirrels over on our friend's ranch with our .22s. It worked okay, but when there was a fence post handy, I'd choose that over my storebought monopod every time. Of course, fence posts are kinda hard to pick up and carry around.
On the other hand, my wife killed as many ground squirrels as I did by just sitting down for the longer shots. I can't easily do that - my 74 year-old knees make it hard for me to get back up off the ground once I sit down.

I had to re-evaluate the question. I think its the ability to still hike out West in these mountains. Yep, thats it.

Practically speaking, my Swarovski 8X42s.

Scout21 said:

My M81 Woodland Hot Weather Coat. I use different guns and knives depending on my mood and what I'm hunting, but I wear this coat every time I go out. As you can tell it is well loved.

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Right on, very functional. Roll up the sleeves and wear it without anything underneath, and you can tolerate 100 degrees. Throw on a long sleeve T-shirt under it, and stay warm in fairly chilly temps. Over a T-shirt and sweater it's jacket-warm. Mine is Army issue, but same thing. Don't leave home without it!

I prize the people I hunt with more than the things.
After that, I'd be with the guy who mentioned his dog. I mostly hunt medium game and my dog doesn't do anything in that respect, but he's still prized.

If it were to come down to equipment, then I'd have to go with binoculars.

The rifle is mostly a burden hunting and has only the purpose to end the hunt. It's only useful for the last second of the hunt. The rest of the time it just gets carried along.

I have an awesome Swaro spotter, but it's a bit of a beast on a ash Berlebach tripod with a Gitzo head. It's definitely the finest piece of equipment I have but I only use it from the 4x4. I mean, I set it up on hilltops, but I don't carry it more than a few hundred yards from the truck.

That brings up the 4x4. It's definitely the most expensive piece of equipment I have, and I depend on it immensely. I don't typically hunt from it, but I would not be able to get anywhere near where I hunt without something like it. It's a '98, so it's an older rig but I invested a lot of time and parts into it about 10 years ago and have maintained it since and it's proven to be dependable and incredibly capable.

For binos, I couldn't afford Swarovski since I need several for my family that I hunt with. I've gone with Nikon Monarch 7 so far. 8x30, 8x42, 10x42. I've also got some 7x35 Nikon porros that are heavy but hit way above their price point. More than any other equipment, this is the stuff that brings the bucks in.

I can follow the guys that mention things like boots, and jackets. That stuff is important to keeping comfortable enough to stay out. I backpack in the spring and summer, so I have good gear and enough years experience to know what works for me. Probably one of the most important pieces of clothing would be a good hat -- something really warm when needed, and something with a good brim when the sun is beating down at high altitude.

Sunglasses are pretty critical and I prize quality ones. I've used non-prescription Maui Jim with glass lenses for the last 25 years, but now I'm getting prescription. Even though it's only -0.25 in one eye (0.0 in the other), it sharpens up my vision from 20/20 to 20/15 or better. The difference is incredible, and there's nothing like visual acuity in hunting deer and antelope in the open basin and range country.

So maybe the most prize hunting possession I have is my health and eyesight.

westernrover said:

The rifle is mostly a burden hunting and has only the purpose to end the hunt. It's only useful for the last second of the hunt. The rest of the time it just gets carried along.

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That's why you should use a really bitchen rifle. You can admire it...makes it feel lighter. Boring common rifles...yeah, dead weight.

My prized hunting possessions consist of the skull mounts from game taken over the years.

Reminders of the people, place and time, as well as how the hunt unfolded. Without question, they are my most prized hunting possessions

This cougar hide is such a reminder, but I was alone that day. Still, an un-forgetful hunt. Excuse the rifle, it's not the one that killed the cat. !!!!